# US 2019/0171179 A1 · Microchip-type optical measuring apparatus and optical position adjusting method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0171179 A1 - Document ID: US20190171179A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/237,039 - Filed: 2018-12-31 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-30 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Applicants: Sony Corporation - Inventors: Yosuke Muraki; Fumitaka Otsuka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190171179A1 ## CPC - G05B 19/27: using an absolute digital measuring device - G01N 15/1434: Optical arrangements - G01N 15/1484: {microstructural devices} - G06N 7/01: Probabilistic graphical models, e.g. probabilistic networks - G01N 2015/1452: {Adjustment of focus; Alignment} - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G06N: COMPUTING ARRANGEMENTS BASED ON SPECIFIC COMPUTATIONAL MODELS ## Abstract To provide a microchip-type optical measuring apparatus which is able to automatically perform position adjustment of a microchip with respect to an optical axis of laser with high accuracy. A microchip-type optical measuring apparatus includes an irradiation detection unit which detects light generated by irradiating a microchip with laser, a position adjustment unit which changes a relative position of the microchip with respect to the irradiation detection unit, and a control unit which outputs a movement signal for a position in which an integrated value or an average value of a detected intensity of the light in a preset region becomes high to the position adjustment unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical measuring apparatus, comprising: an irradiation detector configured to detect light generated by irradiating microparticles flowing through a channel with a laser, wherein the light is detected at a plurality of points in at least one region, the plurality of points comprising a first plurality of points along a focus direction of the laser and a second plurality of points along a direction perpendicular to the focus direction of the laser; and a position adjustment unit comprising at least one motor, wherein the position adjustment unit is configured to change a relative position of the channel with respect to the irradiation detector based on a movement signal for a position selected based on an integrated value or an average value of a detected intensity of the light at the first plurality of points along a focus direction of the laser or at the second plurality of points along a direction perpendicular to the focus direction of the laser. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical measuring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one motor is at least one stepping motor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The optical measuring apparatus of claim 2, wherein the position adjustment unit is configured to change a relative position of the channel with respect to the irradiation detector along at least a first axis and a second axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The optical measuring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the position adjustment unit is further configured to change a relative position of the channel with respect to the irradiation detector along a third axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The optical measuring apparatus of claim 1, wherein a stochastic method is used to estimate a distribution parameter of a probability distribution for modeling a relationship between a detected position of the light and the integrated value or the average value of the detected intensity of the light, and the movement signal for a selected position is based on using the stochastic method to estimate the distribution parameter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The optical measuring apparatus of claim 5, wherein the probability distribution is selected according to an irradiation profile of the laser. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The optical measuring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movement signal is based on a variation coefficient of the integrated value or the average value of the detected intensity of the light. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The optical measuring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movement signal for an area is based on an area average of the integrated value of the detected intensity of the light. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The optical measuring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a processor configured to output the movement signal. ### Claim 10 An optical measuring method, comprising: detecting light by an irradiation detector, the light being generated by irradiating microparticles flowing through a channel with a laser, wherein the light is detected at a plurality of points in at least one region, the plurality of points comprising a first plurality of points along a focus direction of the laser and a second plurality of points along a direction perpendicular to the focus direction of the laser; and performing a position adjustment using at least one motor, wherein the position adjustment changes a relative position of the channel with respect to the irradiation detector based on a movement signal for a position selected based on an integrated value or an average value of a detected intensity of the light at the first plurality of points along a focus direction of the laser or at the second plurality of points along a direction perpendicular to the focus direction of the laser. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The optical measuring method of claim 10, wherein the position adjustment changes a relative position of the channel with respect to the irradiation detector along at least a first axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The optical measuring method of claim 11, wherein the position adjustment changes a relative position of the channel with respect to the irradiation detector along a second axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The optical measuring method of claim 10, wherein a stochastic method is used to estimate a distribution parameter of a probability distribution for modeling a relationship between a detected position of the light and the integrated value or the average value of the detected intensity of the light, and the movement signal for a selected position is based on a result of using the stochastic method to estimate the distribution parameter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The optical measuring method of claim 13, wherein the probability distribution is selected according to an irradiation profile of the laser. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The optical measuring method of claim 10, wherein the movement signal is based on a variation coefficient of the integrated value or the average value of the detected intensity of the light. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The optical measuring method of claim 10, wherein the movement signal for an area is based on an area average of the integrated value of the detected intensity of the light.